





V : 






















^* .-i^Sfe-. \/ :» \.^^ :A'. ^^^^' -^ 





.^■^' .^,fS(K-. ^^ .* .>.V^-.. \^/ /^^\ %,<.* '•- 




V^ ,. ' • 











'bV 



-^^ '•^jm^^^\ '-^^^^ oV^^^i^'" ''bv^ 



^^-n^. 











^"-n^. 






> '"%. c^^' y^^tk' ^ '^^ y /^vVa!'-/'^^. .c.^*^ - 



0^ »»••' 






^-^9^' 



.^^'V 

<^^ ^ 











^^•^^ 






"-n.^o^ 















•0^ 













> 










S^iXX^Jt^^^f^ 



A Memoir 

OF THE 

First Treasurer of the 
United States 

WITH 

CHRONOLOGICAL DATA 

BY THE 

Rev. Michael Reed Minnich, A. M., 

MEMBER OE THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY ; 

THE PENNA-GERMAN SOCIETY ; THE PENNSYLVANIA 

SOCIETY OF SONS OF THE REVOLUTION, ETC, 



" It is a duty, a debt owed by the public to the 
memory of its distinguished dead, for the benefit of 
the living and of future generations, that the life of 
a great man shall be chronicled and handed down 
to posterity." — Hon. William Maclay Hall. 



PHILADELPHIA: 

Published for the Author and Compiler. 

1905. 






4 



ir..r;wARY of .'iofiasess 

iwu Oopies rt«««»t»j 

stp m jyo5 

•oji-vrignt. cnL^v 
Z ff. / ?* *" 

/2ZS ^4r 

COPY B. 



^/, 



Copyright, 1905, 
By Michael Reed Minnich. 



To Mr. and Mrs. J. HEisrRY Meyer, 

San Francisco, Cal., 

to whom we are so greati,y indebted for 

cordial and substantial encouragement, 

This Volume is Dedicated. 



CONTENTS, 



CHAPTER I. 

Page. 
The Hir,i.EGAS Famii^y in America — French extraction — 
Removal to Palatinate — Original spelling of name — Coat 
of arms — George Peter, Sr , John Frederick and Michael, 
Sr. , emigrate to America — A brief genealogy of their 
families 9 

CHAPTER ir. 

MiCHAElv Hll,l<EGAS, THE TREASURER — Birth — Education — 
Homelife — Business experience — Social relations — Musi- 
cal talent — Church relation — Political affairs — Assistant 
Secretary of the Treasury Batcheller gives some data — 
Data from Minutes of the Supreme Executive Council of 
Pennsylvania — A muster roll — Authorized to edit and 
publish historical records — Data from Colonial Records — 
From the Department at Washington — Goes abroad. ... 15 

CHAPTER III. 

The First Treasurer of the Nation — The Treasury De- 
partment continuous — The Head of the Department — His 
great activity 29 

CHAPTER IV. 

The Nation's First Records — Ledger, Journal, Blotter, 
preserved in the Treasury Department — Description of 
interesting Records — Letter in relation to — Reply. ... 35 

CHAPTER V. 

Data from "Votes of the Assembi^y," of the Prov- 
ince of Pennsylvania 41 

CHAPTER VI. 
Data from the Journals of Congress 81 

5 



FOREWORD. 

THIS volume presents itself to the public without 
any apology for intrusion. It has a mission to 
accomplish, which the careful reader will observe is a 
worthy one. Attach it to any reliable financial history 
of the Revolutionary period, and you have a complete 
biography of the subject. It is unfortunate that the 
records, from 1775 to 1781, covering the most important 
part of Mr. Hillegas's incumbency, are lost. 

No effort has been made at expansion or elabora- 
tion ; on the contrary we have aimed at contraction and 
condensation, so as to give in a limited scope the main 
facts of the subject's life, allowing the " data " to speak 
for his official career. His private life and letters are 
to be found in Mrs. Emma St. Clair Whitney's " Michael 
Hillegas and His Descendants." It is not within the 
scope of this volume to publish all the data, letters, etc., 
that we have in our possession ; sufficient has been pre- 
sented, we trust, to secure a public, historical and 
official recognition of our subject. 

An effort has been made to avoid as far as possible 
the repetition of data. 

MiCHABL Reed Minnich. 
Philadelphia, June, 1905. 



CHAPTER I. 

THE HII.LEGAS FAMILY IN AMERICA. 

THERE is a generally accepted tradition in the 
several branches of the Hillegas family, that 
it is of French extraction. This is doubtless owing 
to the fact that the family prior to removal to the 
Palatinate of Germany were residents of the dis- 
puted Franco-German Province of Alsace. This was 
originally German territory, and embraced many 
German as well as French inhabitants. A careful 
inquiry based upon the earliest authentic spelling of 
the name " Hilde-gras, " leads to the conclusion that 
it is of old Gothic-German origin, and of great 
antiquity. 

The blazonry of the coat of arms borne by 
Michael Hillegas, as found on an old piece of silver 
now in the possession of Capt. Henry Hobart Bellas 
of Philadelphia, one of his descendants, appears to 
sustain this theory. As nearly as it can be interpreted 
it is as follows : 

Quarterly. First quarter, gules (red) ; a pine- 
apple (?), argent (silver). Second and third quarters, 
azure (blue) ; a star of eight points, argent (silver). 

9 



Fourth quarter, or (gold); a deer springing, natural 
color. Over all on a fesse (broad band) of argent, 
three musical staves, sable (black). 

Helmet. Surmounted by a German Earl's 
coronet. ^ 

Hildegras means a grassy battlefield. It will be 
observed from the blazonry, that the three musical 
staves on the fesse resting across the middle of the 
shield constitute a principal mark of the escutcheon, 
and indicate an honor conferred for musical ability. 
Now it is asked, " May it not have been given to the 
victor in a musical contest, the victor of a peaceful 
battlefield, far back at the time when he who was 
crowned gave its present name to the family?" 

The religious persecution of the Huguenots and 
Germans of Alsace, and Lorraine, drove the Hillegas 
family with others by way of Baden into the Pala- 
tinate, whence the brothers George Peter, Sr., John 
Frederick and Michael, Sr. , emigrated to America. 
George Peter, Sr., and Michael, Sr., prior to 1724. 
The former located in the Northern Liberties in the 

1 A recently discovered coat of arms of the Hillegas family, at 
Neunkirrhtn, near Mosbach, Baden, of which the frontispiece is 
a reproduction, presented to the writer by Mr. Ferdinand Hillen- 
gass of Frankfort-on-the-Main, shows the single charge of a 
double fleur-de-lis (or,) upon the shield (gules). This may prove 
to be the true interpretation of the first quarter on the coat of 
arms emblazoned above. 

10 



county of Philadelphia, where he died in 1745, leav- 
ing issue : Peter Hillegas ; Margaret, wife of George 
Passager ; Catharine, wife of Philip Tull; Elizabeth 
and Susanna. He was one of the first officers of the 
old Pace Street Reformed Church, organized in 1727. 
In the new church building at Tenth and Wallace 
streets, is a memorial window giving the names of 
the first officers of the congregation, and among them 
is that of George Peter Hillegas. 

John Frederick Hillegas, the progenitor of the 
Montgomery county branch of the family, and prob- 
ably of all who bear the name, in America, at this 
time (1905), was born in Alsace, November 24, 1685. 
With his wife, Elizabeth Barbara and younger chil- 
dren, he sailed from Rotterdam to America in the ship 
"William and Sarah," with the company includ- 
ing the Rev. George Michael Weiss, a Reformed 
minister. They arrived at Philadelphia September 
i8th, and took the oath of allegiance September 
21, 1727. Soon thereafter they settled in the re- 
gion known as "Goshenhoppen," now Montgomery 
county. Here John Frederick Hillegas, prior to 
1734, took up a tract of one hundred and fifty acres 
of land, and by right of purchase, within the years 
closely following, became the possessor of a large 
landed estate. Among these early purchases was a 

II 



tract of one hundred and sixty-five acres, containing 
thereon a grist mill, from George Go wen, February 
6, 1738, and which, until quite recently, was in the 
possession of one of his descendants; also a tract of 
three hundred and sixty-three acres, bought of 
William Parsons, 1749. He died January 6, 1765, 
leaving a valuable estate to his children. His wife, 
Elizabeth Barbara, died March 4, 1759. Their re- 
mains repose in the New Goshenhoppen Reformed 
Church burial ground, nearly opposite the front of 
the present church building. The inscriptions on 
their tombstones are now nearly obliterated and were 
interpreted only after the most diligent efforts. ^ 

This couple had issue: Leopold, b. about 1714 ; 
John Adam, b. 1717, Jan. 5, d. 1779, Mar. 13, m. 
Anna Catharine Bitting, came to this country 1732, 
Aug. II, (ancestor of Mrs. J. Henry Meyer) ; Fred- 
erick, b. about 1720 ; Eva Elizabeth, b. about 1723, 
d. 1766, m. Yeager ; Ann Margaret, b. 1726, Aug. 15, 
^- ^77 3y J^-ii. 6, m, Matthias Richards (Reich ert); 
Ann Regina, b. about 1729, m. Nicolaus Jeger 
(Yeager); Elizabeth Barbara, b. 1732, Apr. 16, d. 
1817, Aug. 15, m. John Frey ; George Peter, b. 1735, 

1 For inscriptions, etc., see — "The Perkiomen Region Past and 
Present," Vol. I, p. 50 ; " The Pennsylvania Magazine of History 
and Biography," April, 1894. 

12 



Feb. 2, d. 1810, Sept, 24, m. Anna Barbara Horn- 
ecker (ancestor of Michael Reed Minnich) ; Conrad, 
b. 1738, Nov. 2, d. 1824, Dec. 24, m. Margretha 
Scliellenberger (ancestor of Henry S. Dotterer). 

Michael, Sr., born in 1696, located in the City 
of Philadelphia, where he became a leading merchant 
and prominent citizen. He was naturalized April 
II, 1749. He owned a large amount of real estate in 
the city, considerable in the adjoining vicinity, and 
several hundred acres in upper Hanover township. 
From his prominent position in the province he was 
soon recognized as the friend of his German country- 
men, who frequently sought his advice and counsel. 
Their language, their odd customs, and their pecu- 
liar dress often made them the objects of ridicule, 
but they never failed to find a wise counsellor and 
sympathetic friend in this truly great and good man. 
His natural endowments and enlarged business ex- 
perience peculiarly fitted him for the position he 
occupied as the leader of the large German popula- 
tion in the city and the surrounding counties. 

In a recent letter to the writer, Mr. Henry S. 
Dotterer pays him the following just tribute : "In my 
judgment Michael Hillegas, the merchant, is a more 
noteworthy character than his son, the Continental 
treasurer. He deserves high regard from us of 

13 



Pennsylvania German extraction. He was one of 
tlie few German merchants in Philadelphia at that 
time, some thirty years before the Revolution, and 
he was one in whom the inland farmers trusted. The 
plain country people needed just such a man at that 
period, when they had no friends to speak of outside 
their own nationality in the province. Bear in mind, 
that they were regarded as peculiar if not suspicious 
aliens ; that they had no influence, could not speak 
the language and were thought only fit to do the 
hardest work in the frontier wilderness. Michael 
Hillegas was their friend and in a degree their main 
protector. If you study his character from this 
standpoint, I feel sure you will find him a man 
worthy of honor from us — a useful, helpful, pictur- 
esque character." 

He died intestate, October 30, 1749, leaving a 
widow, Margaret; one son, Michael (b. 1728-9, Apr. 
22, d. 1804; Sept. 29, m. Henrietta Bonde), who 
became celebrated as the First Treasurer of the United 
States, and two daughters, Susanna, wife of Fred- 
erick Kuhl, and Mary, wife of John Jennings. ^ 



1 See'Hillegas Data, Vol. I, No. i — "The American Historical 
Register," 1894. 

14 



CHAPTER 11. 

MICHAEL HIIvLEGAS, THE TREASURER. 

MICHAEL HILLEGAS was born in the City 
of Philadelphia, April 22, 1729, O. S. He 
was reared within the refined and christian influence 
of a cultured home. His educational advantages 
were the best his native city afforded and, outside of 
the curriculum of the parochial schools and the 
academies of the time, was more practical than 
scholastic. 

At his father's hospitable home he doubtless en- 
joyed the association of the most learned men of the 
day. It was the resort of the pious and learned mis- 
sionaries of the Reformed and Lutheran faith. If 
there is any force in inductive reasoning, beyond all 
controversy, the patriarch Muhlenberg, the pious 
Schlatter and the learned Weiss, received the cordial 
hospitality, the substantial aid and wise counsel of the 
host. He was the friend, the adviser and the pro- 
tector of his fellow countrymen, and it is not sur- 
prising that the son should be popular among the 
extensive circle of patrons, friends and admirers of 
the father. 

15 



In the counting-room he early learned the prin- 
ciples and business methods that were the basis of 
his successful career. At the age of twenty-one 
years, he became the business successor of his father, 
and one of the administrators of his estate — the 
value of which may be estimated from the fact 
that they were required to give bond in the sum of 
^40,000. The real estate consisted of twenty-eight 
lots and tracts of land, several on Front street and 
the Delaware river bank; ten on Second street, mostly 
improved, and the balance were large lots or tracts in 
the then suburbs and county of Philadelphia. ^ 

The Orphans' Court, July 25, 1750, upon the 
petition of the surviving children, Michael, Susanna 
and Mary (the widow " in consideration of an annuity 
during her life voluntarily released all her right, title 
and interest to both real and personal estate of her 
said husband") appointed a jury to value and make 
partition of the estate. Two parts were assigned to 
Michael, and one each to the daughters, ^ The re- 
turn covers fifteen pages of the docket, not including 
a very interesting and neatly executed map of the 
lots and land assigned to the diflferent heirs. It may 

1 Some Data of the Hillegas Family, Vol. I, No. i, p. a^H — 
"The American Historical Register." 
2"0. C. Dockets," p. 117. 

16 



be said this was the beginning of his successful busi- 
ness career as a merchant and sugar refiner. 

lyater in life, he became a prominent member of 
the Martick Forge Co.; the Lehigh Coal Mining 
Co. ; the Pennsylvania Land Co., for which he held 
thousands of acres in Bedford county; and other im- 
portant financial interests. 

Although pressed by the cares and responsibili- 
ties of his personal, political and official duties, he still 
found time for social and domestic pleasures. His 
courteous manner and genial disposition were marked 
by his associates and made him hosts of friends. He 
and his family were members of the historic Assembly 
balls, and it is recorded that one of his daughters was 
debarred for having " married into trade." 

His devotion to music was only surpassed by his 
skill, and like the great liberator of modern thought, 
Dr. Martin Luther, he often found relief from care in 
his flute and violin. John Adams wrote in his diary, 
November 28, 1775: " Hillegas is one of our Conti- 
nental treasurers ; is a great musician ; talks perpetu- 
ally of the forte and piano, of Handel and songs and 
tunes." He was the author of "An Easy Method 
for the Flute." His musical talent was inherited, as 
may be concluded from the presence of the four 
musical staves upon the family coat of arms. 

17 



He was a member of the Fishing Company of 
Fort St. Davids, in 1763; and of the American Phil- 
osophical Society, 1768. 

He was a baptized member of the Reformed 
Church, but some time after his marriage became a 
member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and 
served as a vestryman of Christ Church congregation 
during 1772 and 1773. 

Possessed of ample means, his devotion to the 
interests of his country stamps him as a pure patriot. 
He early took an active interest in political affairs. 
In 1762, he was appointed one of the commissioners 
to select the site and erect a fort (Mifflin) for the pro- 
tection of Philadelphia. From 1765 to 1775 he was 
a member of the Provincial Assembly. In 1771 he 
was a member of the Board of Commissioners to im- 
prove the navigation of the Delaware. In 1774 he 
was a member of the Committee of Observation of 
Philadelphia. In 1775 he became a member of the 
Pennsylvania Committee of Safety; and in the same 
year was chosen Treasurer of the United Colonies, 
serving continuously in this capacity until the Trea- 
ury Department was established by Act of Congress, 
September 2, 1789. ^ The first incumbent under this 
act was Samuel Meredith, whose commission bears 

1 "First Statutes," p. 65 

18 



the date of September ii, 1789.^ And on Septem- 
ber 29th, Alexander Hamilton was appointed by 
Washington, Secretary of the Treasury. 

The first critical period in the life of this gov- 
ernment was the struggle for independent existence. 
The second was the endeavor for systematic organi- 
zation. The one was a war of arms ; the other a 
contest of intellects. I^ogically the one precedes the 
other. Chronologically they often run parallel. The 
formative period of a nation's existence is the most 
trying. When organization has enacted its laws and 
becomes systematized, with perfect machinery run- 
ning with mechanical precision, it is a comparatively 
easy task to perform the duties that pertain to office. 

Michael Hillegas, under the several titles of 
Provincial, Continental and United States Treasurer, 
performed the duties of an office that required the 
greatest possible skill, method and integrity, and faith- 
fully and commendably executed the trust during the 
first fourteen years of the life of the United States of 
America. That no public recognition has been made 
in commemoration of such patriotic, long-continued, 
faithful execution of a trust of so great responsibility 
by the city of his birth, his education, his service and 
his death is a perversion of civic instincts. 

1 See " U, S, Treasury Register." 

19 



The only mention of him in history that we have 
found is by John Bach McMaster. ^ Manasseh Cutler 
(1787), was chosen to represent the company formed 
for the purchase and settlement of land in Ohio, be- 
fore Congress. While this body was engaged with 
other matters, "Cutler spent his time in making 
friends and furthering his plans. St. Clair who was 
President of Congress and whom he soon won over by 
asserting that there was no other man he so longed to see 
governor of the company's purchase, introduced him 
to the foreign ministers. He was delighted to find that 
Van Berckel, the Dutch Charge, took a lively interest 
in the proposed settlements. He dined with Hillegas, 
the Treasurer. He supped with Grayson, and some 
Congressmen from the South. He passed an evening 
with Osgood, head of the Board of Treasury, etc." "^ 

1 "A History of the People of the United States," Vol. I, p. 509, 

2 Since writing the above, "The Financial History of the 
United States," by Prof. Albert 8. BoUes, has appeared. Volume 
I covers the period of the incumbency of Michael Hillegas as 
'1 reasurer. Speaking of the Treasury Department, he says: "More 
than a month elapsed before filling the several offices of the 
Treasury (November 3, 1778). Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., was elected 
Controller; John Gibson, Auditor, and Michael Hillegas who had 
held the office of Treasurer from the beginning was continued 
in the same position. Since the resignation of Mr. Clymer, 
Hillegas had acted as sole Treasiirer ; and from his continuance in 
that office had probably administered it in a successful manner." 
"To the Controller and Treasurer was given a salary of four thou- 
sand dollars" (p. 20). "The Loan Ofiice system was simply ex- 
tended so as to include the Continental Treasurer among the number 
of those authorized to borrow money for the use of the govern- 
ment " (June 15, 1777), p. 51. He is also mentioned in the diaries 
of Christopher Marshall, Jacob Hiltzheimer and Elizabeth Drinker. 

20 



The time is at hand when no history of the 
United States will be considered complete without 
mention of the service of this patriot. The force of 
this statement is augmented when the liberal contri- 
butions of money he made by gift and loan to the 
support of the army during the struggle for inde- 
pendence are recalled. 

During the incumbency of Mr. Hillegas, the 
first entry on the records in the office of the Register 
of the Treasury is under date of April i6, 1776, and 
the last, August 28, 1789. 

The following data were furnished by Hon. Geo. 
S. Batcheller, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, 
April 14, 1890, for Mrs. Emma St. Clair Whitney's 
" Michael Hillegas and His Descendants." 

July 29, 1775/ it was Resolved^ "That Michael 
Hillegas and George Clymer, Esqrs., be joint Treas- 
urers of the United Colonies. ' ' They were designated 
by the same resolution Continental Treasurers. 

August 6, 1776, ^ " That for the future there be 
only one Continental Treasurer " (Mr. Clymer having 
been appointed a delegate to Congress). 

September 6, 1777,^ additional compensation was 



1 "Journals of Congress," Vol. i, p, 173. 
"i- Ibid., Vol. II, p. 299. 
^ Ibid., Vol, III, p, 301. 



21 



"Allowed to Michael Hillegas, Esq., Treasurer 
of the United States, from the 6th day of August, 
1776, when Mr. Clymer resigned the office of joint 
Treasurer." 

March 22, 1785^ mention is made of "Michael 
Hillegas, Esq., Continental Treasurer." 

The minutes of the Supreme Executive Council 
of Pennsylvania reveal: July 13, 1780, a letter from 
Michael Hillegas, Esq., Treasurer of the United 
States, informing the Board that he had received 
draug his irom. Congress for 1,796,950, and for 4,569,045 
dollars, and one-third dollar, and requesting infor- 
mation when the whole or part will be paid. August 
7, 1780, a letter from same requesting information of 
the intentions of the Board respecting two warrants, 
dated June 29th, for 1,796,950 dollars and another for 
4,569,045 dollars and thirty-ninetieths, was read. 
April 16,1781, an order from the Treasury Board on 
Michael Hillegas, Esq., Treasurer of the United 
States.^ "In the Treasury accounts frequent 
mention is made of money advanced by him for 
improving the public highways and rivers, and the 
docks and islands in the Delaware." 

The great distress that prevailed in the army 

1 "Journals of Congress," Vol. X, p, 96. 

2 " Colonial Record," Vol, XII, pp. 423, 444, 693. 

22 



during the spring of 1780 for the want of food, 
clothing and money for the soldiers, designates it as 
one of the gloomiest periods of the Revolntion. 
Then it was that a number of the responsible citizens 
of Philadelphia came to the relief of the Government 
by resort to their private fortunes. A meeting was 
called at the " Coffee- House," June 8, 1780, and a 
subscription started "to be given in bounties to 
promote the recruiting service of the United States," 
Another largely-attended meeting was called on the 
17th of June of the same year at the City Tavern, 
and a subscription of money started, on which the 
signers pledged their property and credit "in order 
to support the credit of a bank, to be established for 
furnishing a supply of provisions for the Armies of 
the United States. At this meeting, Michael Hillegas 
subscribed ;^4,ooo. The list was completed within 
a few days, and the "Pennsylvania Bank" was 
organized and continued in operation for nearly a year 
and a half, rendering essential service to the country. 
November i, 1781, a meeting was held at the City 
Tavern, out of which grew the Bank of North 
America. Mr. Hillegas was one of the first sub- 
scribers to the stock of this bank. And on December 
31, 1781, the Congress of the United States passed an 
act incorporating the subscribers under the title of 

23 



" The President, Directors and Company of the Bank 
of North America." ^ 

A recent-discovered muster roll of the 7th Com- 
pany, 3d Battalion, Philadelphia City Militia, shows 
that Michael Hillegas was regularly enrolled as a 
member of Captain Andrew Geyer's Company, Sep- 
tember 20, 1781. His name is given among the 
delinquents, 1782, but his absence and failure to per- 
form duty is accounted for by the fact of his being 
Treasurer of the United States. 

In recognition of his ability and methodical 
habits, the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, April 
2, 1781, Resolved^ "That Michael Hillegas, Esq., be 
requested and empowered to revise, compare, correct 
and publish in one volume, the resolves of the 
Committee of the late Province of Pennsylvania, with 
their instructions to their Representatives in As- 
sembly, held at Philadelphia, the 15th day of July, 
1774 ; the proceedings of the convention for the 
Province of Pennsylvania, held at Philadelphia, the 
23rd of January, 1775 ; the proceedings of the 
Provincial Conference of Committees held at 
Carpenter's Hall, in the City of Philadelphia, the 
18th day of June, 1776 ; the Declaration of Indepen- 

1 "History of the Bank of North America," Lawrence I^ewis, 
Jr., Philadelphia, 1882. 

24 



dence by the Congress of the United States, made the 
4th of July, 1776 ; the minutes of the proceedings of 
the Convention of the State of Pennsylvania, held at 
Philadelphia, the 15th day of July, 1776, with the 
Constitution ; the minutes of the Assemblies of the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to the end of the 
present year ; and the Articles of Confederation of the 
United States of America, and that the House will 
purchase and pay for two hundred copies thereof." 
The volume was published in folio the following 
year. It is the last volume of the series — "Votes of 
the Assembly." ^ 

He suggested, in a letter to the Governor of New 
Hampshire, "the importance of preserving the 
history of the present revolution " by the compilation 
of similar work, under the authority of the legis- 
latures of the other states of the Union, August 20, 
1781. 

1784, April 23d, with Tench Francis, he was a 
commissioner to divide and sell the ground upon 
which the Barracks in Philadelphia (Northern 
Liberties) were built. "^ 

He was an Alderman of the City of Philadelphia, 

iTo be found in Library of Historical Society of Pennsyl- 
vania, and in the Congressional Library at Washington, D . C. 
2 ♦' Colonial Records," XIV, 76. 

25 



1792* aud one of the associate justices of the Mayor's 
Court. His residence at this time was 20 South Sixth 
street; previously he resided at 91 North Second street. 

A few quotations from the Colonial Records 
are herewith given. : 

1775, July 14th, the Committee of Safety 
Resolved^ "That Mr. Robert Morris, Messrs. George 
Gray, Samuel Morris, Jr., and Thomas Wharton, Jr., 
be a committee to wait on the Provincial Treasurer, 
and know if a sum of money can be borrowed of him 
until the money of this Board is emitted." ^ 

1775, August loth, Resolved^ "That an order be 
drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq., Treasurer of this 
Board, in favor of Messrs. Robert Morris and Thomas 
Wharton, Jr., for the sum of twenty-five thousand 
pounds." Which was done and signed bv Benjamin 
Franklin, President. ^ 

See also orders given by direction of Congress 
and signed by John Hancock, President. ^ 

Preserved in the Archives of the Department of 
State of the United States is the original of the 
following copy of a letter, also the acknowledgment 
of Mr. Hillegas : 

i " Colonial Records," X, 286. 

2 " Colonial Records," X, 300. 

3 " Colonial Records," Ibid., pp. 401, 415. 

26 



Philadelphia, September 21, 1781. 
Sir :— Inclosed herewith, I have the pleasure to 
transmit to you two Acts of Congress, one of the nth, 
and the other of the 19th instant, whereby you will 
perceive you are again elected Treasurer of the 
United States of America. 

You were chosen b}' an unanimous ballot, which 
is the fullest approbation of your past conduct. I 
wish you satisfaction in the appointment, and all 
manner of happiness, and am, 

Sir, with respect, etc., etc., 

T. McKean, President. 

After laying aside the burdens of official life, he 
went abroad for much needed rest, as indicated by 
the following : 

Minutes Board of Property. 

" At a meeting at the Surveyor General's, 5th 
October, 1789, 

Inter alia, 
Martick Forge Company 

vs. 
Rob't Ramsay and 
Richard Keagy. 

On Coveat. 

" Mr. Hillegas, having some of the papers of the 
company, necessary for trial, and he being abroad, 
it's thought proper to postpone this cause to the first 
Monday in March next." * * * — " Penna. Archives," 
Third Series, Vol. I, p. 667. 

He died in Philadelphia, September 29, 1804, in 
the 76th year of his age, and was buried beside his 
wife in the hallowed ground of Christ Church. 

27 



In estimating the character of the men who 
took prominent part in the affairs of this period of 
the nation's life, it is well to note that Pennsylvania 
was an important factor ; that at the beginning of 
the Revolutiona;ry era nearly one half of the popu- 
lation of this State were Germans ; and that it may 
be confidently asserted that their enfranchisement, 
June 19, 1776, made the Declaration of Independence 
possible. 



28 



CHAPTER III. 

THE FIRST TREASURER OF THE NATION. 

THE failure to place the portrait of Michael 
Hillegas, the first treasurer of the United 
States, upon the paper currency of the Country or to 
give him other fitting recognition, is an illustration 
of the official and historical neglect that has per- 
sistently followed this gentleman. When it is known 
that he held the office of Treasurer from the begin- 
ning, 1775, and was continued in the position until 
September, 1789, indicating that he had administered 
it in a successful manner ; that he was a native born 
citizen of Philadelphia, that his means enabled him 
by gift and loan to contribute liberally to the 
necessities of his country, which he did, this 
omission becomes intensified and would seem to 
indicate an ignorance of historic facts or a lack of 
thorough research on the part of the chroniclers of 
the events connected with the early days of the 
republic. The truth is, that in the examination and 
presentation of this subject, the general historian has 
failed to look to original sources, and has in some 
instances drawn upon his imagination for facts. 

29 



While the so called historical specialist^ bent upon 
establishing a theory, frequently overlooks and 
ignores much that he sees, when it detracts from his 
line of argument, and thrusts his own personality 
into the breach to hide the hiatus. One sees only 
Morris ; the other Meredith. And the comparatively 
recent efforts in the City of Philadelphia and in the 
Pennsylvania Legislature to give additional honor to 
these gentlemen and patriots on the basis of service 
in the Treasury Department, or as First Treasurer 
of the United States (?), respectively, and entirely 
overlooking or neglecting Mr. Hillegas, cannot be 
approved on historical grounds, by any diligent 
examiner of the original data in connection with the 
Treasury Department, as found in the "Pennsylvania 
Archives," the "Votes of the Assembly," the 
"Journals of Congress," and the department itself. 
It is a mere begging of the question to say the 
United States was not the United States between 
July 4, 1776 and the organisation of the Treasury 
Department under the constitution in 1789. 

The representatives of the commonwealths, that 
had been colonies, in General Congress assem- 
bled, designated them the United States ; not only 
once, and in connection with the Treasury Depart- 
ment, but in every important instance. After the 

30 



Declarationof Independence, July 4, 1776, the colonies 
became commonwealths. They were no longer de- 
pendent provinces but independent states, and by the 
*' Articles of Confederation "—UNITED STATES. 
This admitted, and it cannot be evaded, Michael 
Hillegas was the First Treasurer of the United States, 
and as such deserves official recognition. 

The Treasury Department alone remained con- 
tinuous from the beginning. The financial chain 
must of necessity be complete. It matters not what 
form a government may take, if it is to have any 
stability, the Treasury must be maintained. The 
first links in this Department were practically forged 
by Michael Hillegas. It will not do, as many have 
done, to proceed upon the conclusion that the 
Treasury Department existed from the beginning 
upon the same plan as it exists to-day. A careful ex- 
amination of the records show that the Treasurer was 
not only a very important factor, but if salary means 
anything he was at the head of the department. Be 
this as it may the proof is abundant that the position 
sustained a more important relation to the depart- 
ment than it does in this year of grace 1905. Prof. 
William G. Sumner, while he fails to make any 
recognition of Mr. Hillegas, states, " On the 5th of 
September (1781) Morris recorded the negotiations by 

31 



which he secured means to pay the soldiers. He 
applied to Rochambeau for twenty thousand hard 
dollars, promising repayment at any time he should 
n me. He met Luzerne, Rochambeau and Chastellux 
at Luzerne's house. Their military chest was low, 
and, although they had money at Boston, it would 
take six or eight weeks to get it to Philadelphia. 
Money was also on the fleet of De Grasse, but its 
arrival was uncertain. Moreover the consent of the 
Intendant and the Treasurer was necessary, and they 
had set out for the head of Elk. The whole party 
rode thither to see them." ^ 

During the crucial part of this nation's life 
and the formative period of its organization, when 
the services of a patriot more than a politician 
were required, the steady hand of Hillegas at the 
helm kept the finances of the Ship of State within 
control. The satisfactory manner in which he 
administered the affairs of the department led 
gradually to the enlargement of his powers and the 
increase of his duties. June 15, 1777, the Treasurer 
was included among the number of those author- 
ized to borrow money for the use of the govern- 
ment. July 23, 1781, F. Hopkins, treasurer of loans, 

1 p. 303, Vol. I, "The Financier and the Finances of the 
American Revolution." 

32 




1 729-1804 



resigned, and that office abolished, and the business 
thereof annexed to the office of Treasurer of the 
United States. October i6, 1786, in the ordinance 
for the establishment of the Mint of the United 
States, it is directed that there shall be among its 
officers " A Paymaster, who shall be the Treasurer of 
the United States for the time being," and defines 
his duties. 

The minutes of the Pennsylvania Assembly, 
generally known as "Votes of the Assembly," from 
1765 to 1775, his term of service as a member of that 
body, will illuminate a page of heretofore unwritten 
history of colony and commonwealth, of state and 
government, of finance and financiers and places in 
bold relief thereon the name of Michael Hillegas. 
He is revealed as very busy and aggressive, and as 
a most remarkably ready man. As a broad-gauge 
statesman, as well as an acute financier ; a philan- 
thropist interested in the Negro, the Indian and the 
poor of his native city. The Pennsylvania Hospital, 
the employment and support of the poor and the 
erection of buildings for the purpose, provision for 
prisoners in confinement, and both public and private 
wrongs commanded his personal interest and support. 
He was the active leader in lighting, grading, paving 
and draining what was then the Capital of the nation. 

33 



He was deeply interested and aggressive in making 
and keeping navigable the Delaware River. And 
was on the committee to locate the first bridge across 
the Schuylkill. 

His position for ten successive years on the 
committee to audit and settle the accounts of the 
General Loan Office and other public accounts, 
together with his financial responsibility, made him 
the logical incumbent of the office of public trust 
that he held for so many years. 



34 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE NATION'S FIRST RECORDS. 

Preserved in the Treasury Department — Ledger, Journal and 
Blotter constitute the set. 

THE following article graphically describes these 
priceless records, and the correspondence so 
aptly illustrates statements heretofore made, that we 
give them place in this chapter. 

"Among the archives of the Treasury Depart- 
ment there is a rare and valuable set of books — rare as 
a specimen of old-time bookkeeping and valuable for 
the associations clustered around them and the records 
which they contain. The set consists of three books 
— a ledger, a journal, and a blotter or waste book — 
and is over 120 years old, forming the first link in the 
chain of the history of this country's financial deal- 
ings with its representatives in other lands and those 
that kept up the government during the trying period 
of the Revolution. 

"Under the Continental Congress and govern- 
ment a Board of Treasury was provided to have charge 
of the finances, and soon after its organization the 
Treasurer's ofiice was instituted. This was done 

35 



April I, 1776, and about two weeks later the first 
entry was made on the blotter and the first set of 
books of the United States Treasury Department was 
beg-un. In 1789, September 2, the present United 
States Treasury was created, with Alexander Ham- 
ilton of New York as the Secretary of the Treasury; 
Nicholas Eveleigh of South Carolina, first Comp- 
troller ; Oliver Wolcott, Jr., of Connecticut, first 
Auditor; Samuel Meredith of Pennsylvania, Treas- 
urer, and Joseph Nourse of Virginia, Register. 
These were the original bureaus of the Treasury De- 
partment, but from time to time, beginning in 1816, 
other offices or bureaus, as the exigencies of the 
public service required, have been added. 

INTERESTING RECORDS. 

*'The old books were continued, however, from 
the Treasurer's office under the Board of Treasury 
into the time of the Treasury Department, but no 
mention is made of the change, because the Treas- 
urer's office continued practically the same under the 
Department as it did under the Board of Treasury. 

" The blotter shows from the headings at the top 
of various pages how the Continental Congress, and 
consequently the government of the republic, was 
compelled to move about from place to place, and in 

36 



a number of instances the books were saved from 
British hands by the merest chance. The books were 
l5;ept in Philadelphia at the close of the Revolution 
until 1800, and were then brought to Washington, 
where the government was moved at that time. 

"The first entry made in the blotter was on 
April i6th, 1776, and this is the first date of entry, 
of course, in both journal and ledger. It is an item 
of certain moneys paid to James Warren, Paymaster 
General of the United States Army. In the ledger 
and journal the writing is beautifully done, while the 
paper and ink are remarkably well preserved. The 
paper had no lines on it, and the bookkeeper was 
compelled to do his own ruling, but his work bears 
a close inspection and would pass for machine ruling. 
Nearly all the prominent men of the period of the 
Revolution are mentioned in both ledger and journal, 
and many interesting items are to be found opposite 
their names. One highly interesting entry is that of 
the lottery conducted by the United States govern- 
ment in 1 781. The ledger and journal have both 
been recently rebound, and to all outside appearances 
are current books. 

*' The blotter, or waste book, is, of course, much 
more interesting than the other books in the set on 
account of the details which are set forth. The 

37 



writing in it is not nearly as good as that of the 
journal and ledger, but it is legible, and, as in the 
other books remarkably well preserved. 

GENERAI, WASHINGTON'S ACCOUNTS. 

"George Washington's accounts are all entered 
in due shape and are always items of moneys paid on 
his demand. Washington would not receive a stated 
salary at first for his services to the government, but 
said that he would submit from time to time, as occa- 
sion might arise, his statement of expenses, for which 
he felt sure the government would reimburse him, 
and these entries are the demands which were made 
by him during the Revolutionary War. 

"Another book that is interesting, and which, 
while not in the set, forms a part of the collection of 
the Treasury Department, is what is called 'A Jour- 
nal of Cash, for the Commission at the Court of 
France.' It contains a full account of the expenses 
of the commission that went to France to solicit aid 
for the young republic, and some of the items are not 
only interesting, but rather humorous. The first 
entry was made in favor of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, 
December 7, 1776, and was to defray his traveling 
expenses. An interesting fact shown by this book is 
that all the members of the commission were very 

38 



fond of wine, not the ordinary brands, but of cham- 
pagne and burgundy, and some entries record as high 
ag eighty cases of each variety charged to the gov- 
ernment. Some of the accounts on which money 
was paid * were trivial, while others were of more 
moment. Linen, wood, 'chariots,' servants' hire, 
lanterns, lodgings, trunks, table ware, wine, snuff 
boxes, and a hundred and one other things were 
charged up to the government and the money re- 
funded for them upon the return of the commission 
to this country. Indeed, some of the members were 
sent letters of credit, reimbursing them in France for 
their expenditures. The whole amount of the cost 
of maintaining the commission at the court of France 
is not given, but it must have been a pretty sum." ^ 

Philadelphia, Pa., July 24, 1897. 

Editor "Washington Star," 

Washington, D. C. 

My Dear Sir : 

Under a conspicious heading, "Nations First 
Records," '■'■The Cair' of this city publishes from 
your columns an interesting and graphic historical 
account of the Ledger, Journal and Blotter, "forming 
the first link in the chain of the history of this 
country's financial dealings * * * during the trying 
period of the Revolution." The author gives exact 
dates, but inadvertently omits giving the name of 
the Treasurer who kept these invaluable records. 



1 "Washington Star." 

39 



To the public and general histories his name is 
unknown, or never given. 

May I ask you, through your correspondent, to 
give his name. 

Very truly, 

MiCHAEi* Reed Minnich. 

The Evening Star. 

Washington, D. C, July 27, 1897. 
M. R- Minnich, 
Dear Sir : 

In answer to your query I would say that 
two men were appointed by Congress to look after 
the Treasurer's office. They were Michael Hillegas 
and George Clymer. The latter resigned soon after, 
but Hillegas stayed in for a long time. 

Hillegas was from Pennsylvania. They were 
appointed between April ist and i6th, (1776). 
Very truly yours, 

(Signed) John A. Graham, 

Correspondent. 



40 



CHAPTER V. 

Votes of the Assembly of the Province of 
Pennsylva7tia : ^ 

To the student of history, the following excerpts 
from the sources indicated will prove interesting. 

1763, Jan. 26. A remonstrance from Daniel Williams 
and Michael Hillegas, two of the Commissioners 
for the county of Philadelphia, vs. The Acts 
of Assembly of this Province, passed 1758-9, 
for " Fines on all county, township and ward 
assessors, for refusing or neglecting to 
serve,***" wherein the fine is fixed at fifty 
pounds. 

1763, Feb. 3. The same was read the second time 
and after some debate Messrs. Fox, Galloway, 
Evans, Rhoads, Morton, were appointed a 
Committee to prepare and bring in "A Bill 
for regulating the fines, etc. ' ' 

1765, Oct. 14. Michael Hillegas first enrolled as a 
member of the Assembly for Philadelphia 
county. 

1 In many instances the exact language and orthography are 
retained. 

41 



1765, Oct. 16. ''Resolved^ that Mr. Hillegas, Mr. 
Willing, Mr. Foulke, Mr. Humphreys, Mr. 
Jacobs, Mr. Carpenter, Mr. M'Pherson, Mr. 
Montgomery, Mr. Witman and Mr. Taylor be 
a Committee of aggrievances for the ensuing 
year; and that they have full power and author- 
ity to send for persons, papers and records." 
That Mr. Richardson, Mr. Hillegas, Mr. 
Willing, Mr. Knight and Mr. Pearson be a 
Committee to audit and settle the accounts of 
the General Loan Office of this Province, and 
other public accounts, etc. ' ' Reported Septem- 
ber 9, 1766. Final report September 18, 1766, 
and all paid fifteen pounds each for their 
services. 

1766, Jan. II. Ordered^ that Messrs. Galloway, 
Willing and Hillegas, be a Committee to pre- 
pare and bring in a Bill for the purpose of 
extending the time for drawing the church 
lottery of St. Peters, etc. 

1766, Jan. 15. Mr. Hillegas one of the Committee 
to prepare and bring in a bill for erecting 
a house for the support and employment of 
the poor in the City of Philadelphia. 

1766, Jan. 21. Mr. Hillegas on Committee to pre- 
pare and bring in a Bill for the purposes 
42 



mentioned in the " Petition from a number of 
inhabitants on the West Side of the River 
Schuylkill, of the City of Philadelphia." 

1766, Jan. 24. One of Committee to prepare, etc., 
" Bill to make provision for certain prisoners 
continued in confinement for their fees." 

1766, Feb. 6. Mr. Richardson and Mr. Hillegas 
appointed to make inquiry into the truth of 
several allegations contained in the petition of 
Frederick Peplers. 

1766, Sept. 12. Ordered^ that Messrs. Richardson, 
Hillegas, Willing, Ptmberton, Pearson and 
Allen be a Committee to prepare, etc., *' A Bill 
for granting to his Majesty the sum oi four 
thousand pounds^ out of the money now 
remaining in the hands of the Provincial 
Treasurer, for quartering such a number of 
his Majesty's troops as the General may find 
necessary to send into this Province. 

1766, Oct. 14. Chairman, "Committee of aggrie- 
vances." Continued on "Committee to audit 
and settle accounts, etc." 

1767, Jan. 15. He was one of the Committee to 
inquire into the alleged loss of deeds of Philip 
Fox. Reported January 24, 1767. 

1767, Jan. 26. He was one of the Committee to 

43 



examine and compare assessments returned 
from the several counties for 1766. 

1767, Jan. 28. One of the Committee to hear the 
several debtors in gaol who have petitioned for 
relief. Reported February 3, 1767. 

1767, Jan. 29. A member of the Committee to 
amend the Act of Assembly of this Province, 
" An Act to prevent the exportation of staves, 
heading, boards and timber not merchantable." 

1767, Feb. 10. Ordered, that Mr. Iii\\egas,{e^ a/.), 
bring in a Bill for the relief of certain debtors. 

1767, Feb. 14. " Bill for the relief of Philip Fox in 
re-certain title deeds." 

1767, Sept. 12. Mr. Hillegas, one of the Trustees of 
Province Island and buildings thereon. 
Michael Hillegas and Charles Humphreys, 
Esqrs., appointed Trustees of the State House 
with the appurtenances, in the stead of Isaac 
Norris and Thomas Leech, Esqrs., deceased. 

1767, Sept. 16. The Committee on Finances, of 
which Mr. Hillegas was a member, made a 
partial report, and on the 24th of the same 
month a further report. 

The Trustees of Province Island were asked 
to make a careful search for the title deeds 
of the Island, and after they have received 

44 



conveyance from Joseph Trotter, the survivor 
of the former Trustees, to have the same with 
other papers they think requisite recorded. 

1767, Oct. 15. Mr. Hillegas continued on the Com- 
mittee to audit accounts, etc. 

1768, Jan. 20. Messrs. Fox, Hillegas, Ross and 
Rodman, Committee to prepare "A Bill for 
finishing the Middle House of the west end 
of the Philadelphia Barracks." 

A member of the Committee to prepare, 
etc, "A Bill for raising a sum of money, by 
way of lottery, for the purpose of a public land- 
ing in Northern L,iberties, and paving the 
streets of Philadelphia. 
1768, Feb. 4. Messrs. Fox, lyivezey, Hillegas, Pem- 
berton, Warson, Browne, Pearson, Carpenter, 
M'Pherson, and others a Committee to ex- 
amine witnesses and inquire into the rescue, 
from the gaol at Carlisle, of Frederick Stump, 
committed for the murder of Indians at Middle 
Creek. The House adjourned to give the 
committee opportunity to hear witnesses and 
prepare a report. This was an event of 
considerable importance owing to the Indian 
troubles that preceded in 1763 and the follow- 
ing years, and brought forth a message from 

45 



the Assembly to the Governor, John Penn, and 
a reply from him. Also a letter from the 
Speaker, Mr. Joseph Galloway to Sir William 
Johnson, Baronet, and his reply. Upon con- 
sideration of these papers, "the House re- 
solved that it will resolve itself into a Com- 
mittee of the whole House, on Thursday morn- 
ing next, to deliberate more fully on the im- 
portance of their contents." It was deter- 
mined to raise three thousand pounds to de- 
fray the expenses of apprehending Frederick 
Stump and removing the discontent of the 
Indians by presents of condolence, 
1768, Sept. 19. A detailed report of the Committee 
on accounts of the General Loan Office and 
other public accounts from 1751 was presented. 
The Committee at this time was Messrs. Pem- 
berton, Pearson, Richardson, Fox, Hillegas 
and Yardley. This was an unusual and lengthy 
report, in as much as it embraced beside the 
General Loan Office, the accounts of the sev- 
eral County Treasurers; of the Collectors of 
Excise; of Thomas Coombe, Collector of 
Duties on Tonnage and Shipping; of Com- 
missioners for erecting a Lighthouse; of Joseph 
Fox. Esq., Barrack-master of Philadelphia; 
46 



and the Barrack-masters of the other counties; 
of the administrators of Thomas Leech, 
deceased, one of the superintendents of the 
building of the State House; of Samuel Pres- 
ton Moore, Esq., Provincial Treasurer, etc. 
(It is here that we begin to fairly feel the pres- 
ence of Michael Hillegas. The systematizing 
of the accounts of the Province was evidently 
due to this gentleman.) 

1768, Oct. 15, Mr. Hillegas continued on Com- 
mittee of accounts. During this session he 
was on the Committee "Authenticating the 
German town records" ; "Regulating the 'assize' 
of bread"; "Regulating, pitching, paving 
and cleaning the highways, streets, lanes and 
alleys in the City of Philadelphia"; " To pre- 
vent and remove nuisances"; "To regulate 
wagoners, carters, draymen and porters"; and 
to continue an "Act for appointing wardens 
for the Port of Philadelphia," and regulating 
"Pilots plying in the river and bay of Dela- 
ware, etc." "Appointment of regulators in 
the township of Northern Liberties." 

1769, Jan. 31. Messrs. Richardson, Hillegas, Pem- 
berton and Ross, a Committee to bring in an 
"Answer to the Governor's message of the 
i6th inst., concerning the Indian affairs." 

47 



1769, Feb. 3. Mr. Hillegas was on the following 
Committees : " To hear the petitions, view and 
take the level of the proper places for carrying 
oft the water; estimate the expense of making 
the necessary common sewers and to consider 
the ways and means of defraying the same." 
In relation to "Damage (for the second time) 
from the overflowing of the common sewer, at 
the intersection of Market and Fourth streets." 
To visit Pennsylvania Hospital and report. 
To deposit ancient books and records of Ger- 
mantown in the ofiice of the Recorder of Deeds 
and take receipt for same; which was promptly 
done and reported to the Assembly. 

1769, May 9. Messrs. Richardson, Hillegas and 
Pemberton, a Committee to revise the minutes 
of the last sitting and report the several matters 
therein referred to the consideration of the 
House at its present meeting. This report 
was submitted on the loth. 

1769, May 27. It was ordered that Mr. Hillegas 
"Join with the Secretary in collating the 
engrossed Bills," by direction of the Governor, 
that the same might be enacted into laws. In 
this, as in all matters entrusted to him, he was 
prompt to report. 

48 



1769, Sept. 21. The Committee of the Assembly 
on the state of public accounts, Messrs. Fox, 
Richardson, Pemberton, Hillegas and Pearson, 
presented an exhaustive report. 

1769, Sept. 22. Messrs. Hillegas, Pearson, Rich- 
ardson and Pemberton, of the Committee on 
accounts, reported on the petition of James 
Johnson, late clerk of the Trustees of the 
General I^oan Office for compensation during 
a period of two years, in which he admin- 
istered the affairs of said office — 1765 to the 
2ist of October, 1767 — during the last sickness 
of Charles Norris, until passed into the hands 
of Samuel Preston Moore. 

1769, Oct. 14. This date marks the beginning of 
the sittings of the Assembly and the name 
of Michael Hillegas has climbed up to the 
third place on the list of members. He was 
appointed chairman of the "Committee of 
aggrievances" ; chairman of the Committee on 
accounts, etc., with Messrs. Fox, Pemberton, 
Chapman and Pearson. 

1770, Jan. 2. He was on the Committee of " Relief 
of insolvent debtors." 

1770, Jan. 6. Mr. Hillegas appointed and empowered 
to collect and receive fines for breach of the 

49 



rules by members of the Assembly, to be 
applied to the use of Pennsylvania Hospital. 

1770, Jan. 16. On the Committee to ascertain 
"Allowance to criminals after conviction." 

1770, Feb. 24. Messrs. Hillegas and Pearson, to see 
the Great Seal affixed to certain Bills that had 
been passed into laws. 

1770, May 15. Messrs. Richardson, Fox and Hillegas, 
Committee to prepare a Bill to renew Acts for 
appointing wardens for the Port of Philadel- 
phia, regulating pilots, price of pilotage, etc. 

1770, Oct. 15. Mr. Hillegas, as the Representative 
from Philadelphia county heads the list of 
members of the Assembly. 

1770, Oct. 16. He was continued chairman of the 
* ' Committee of aggrievances ' ' and of the 
Committee to audit and settle the accounts of 
the General Loan Office and other public 
accounts with Messrs. Fox, Rhoads, Chapman 
and Pearson. 

1770, Oct. 17. Mr. Hillegas appointed and em- 
powered (for the second time) to demand and 
collect fines for breach of the rules of the 
Assembly, to be applied to the Pennsylvania 
Hospital. On this day John Dickenson ap- 
pearing for the first time in the House since 
50 



his election, was qualified as usual and took 

his seat. 
1771, Jan. 9. Mr. Hillegas, on behalf of himself 

and the other Commissioners appointed to 

settle the accounts of the Managers of the 

Skippack Lottery^ laid before the House, ' ' A 

statement of their settlement with the said 

Managers." 

Chairman of Committee to prevent destruction 

of rockfish and oysters. 
1771, Feb. 12. Chairman of the Committee " For 

regulating the nightly watch and enlightening 

the streets, lanes and alleys of the City of 

Philadelphia." 
1 77 1, Feb. 13. Messrs. Hillegas, Livezey, Dickenson 

and others, a Committee to present " An Act 

that no public house or inn within the Province 

be kept without license." 
1771, Mar. 7. Messrs. Hillegas and Pearson join the 

members of the Council in collating the several 

Bills already engrossed. 
1771, Oct. 14. Mr. Hillegas again leads in the list 

of members. 
1771, Oct. 15. Again Chairman of accounts, etc. 
1771, Oct. 16. Continued a Committee on "Fines 

for breach of rules, etc." 

51 



T77I, Oct. i8. Messrs. Hillegas, Fox, Livezey and 
Biddle a Committee to prepare and present 
"A Bill for preventing tumults, riotous 
assemblies, etc." 

1772, Jan. 8. Mr. Hillegas was a member of the 
Committee to formulate Bill to regulate size of 
bread. Chairman of Committee "To examine 
the state of the Register General's and Rolls 
Office." 

1772, Jan. 9. Chairman of the Committee for the 
"Recovery of divers sums of money due to 
the public from certain persons, late Commis- 
sioners, Assessors and Clerks in the county of 
Lancaster." This matter had been before the 
House for some time, and Mr. Hillegas had been 
on the committee to examine their accounts. 

1772, Jan. 10. He leads the "Committee to con- 
sider of and report their opinion respecting a 
more equitable and less expensive mode of 
levying and collecting the Provincial and 
county taxes in this government." 

1772, Jan. 28. Messrs. Hillegas, Fox and others a 
Committee for ' ' Regulating the fishery in the 
Delaware," and to amend "An Act declaring 
the rivers Delaware, Lehigh, etc., common 
highways, etc." 

52 



1772, Jan, 29. On the Committee to regulate 

chimney sweepers. 
1772, Mar. 4. On the Committee for "Relief of 

Richard Stevens," an insolvent. 
1772, Mar. 12. On the Committee for " Relief of 

certain insolvent debtors." 
1772, Mar. 16. Chairman of the Committee on 

" Payment of the public debts." 
1772, Oct. 14. Continued as a member of the 

Assembly. 
1772, Oct. 15. Chairman of the Committee of 

accounts, etc. 

1772, Oct. 16. Sole member of Committee to collect 
fines, etc., for the benefit of the Pennsylvania 
Hospital. 

Messrs. Hillegas, Rhoads and Mifflin, Com- 
mittee to procure a catalogue, to be taken of 
all the books in the Assembly Library, to 
number the same, and place them in proper 
order. This same Committee instructed to 
" Purchase from David Hall, fifty complete 
sets of the three first volumes of the ' Votes of 
the Assemblies of this Province.' " Which 
was done, at the price of three pounds, ten 
shillings for each set. 

1773, Jan. 6. On this date the last named com- 

53 



mittee having reported the aforenamed pur- 
chase were asked to ' ' Prepare and bring in a 
draught of rules for better regulating the use 
of the Assembly Library." 

1773, Feb. II. Considerable feeling existed at this 
time and the years immediately preceding 
between the tanners and shoemakers on account 
of the quality of much of the leather manu- 
factured, and found its way, through petitions, 
into the Assembly. An effort, which met 
with considerable opposition, was made to 
pass a new Bill "To prevent frauds and abuses 
in the manufacturing of leather." Mr. 
Hillegas took a leading part in the passage of 
this new Bill. 

1773, Feb. 13. Was made chairman of the Com- 
mittee to prepare same. He was also appointed 
chairman to prepare, etc., " A Bill for altering 
and amending," "An Act for opening and 
better amending and keeping in repair the 
public roads and highways within this Prov- 
ince. " Before this matter was determined, the 
usual parliamentary and political tactics were 
employed to delay and defeat it. 

1773, Feb. 26. Messrs. Hillegas, Rhoads, and 
Pearson were ordered to join with the 

54 



Members of Council in comparing the en- 
grossed Bills of this session. And that Mr. 
Hillegas and Pearson do see the Great Seal 
affixed to the said Bills, after they shall be 
passed into laws, and deposit the same in the 
Rolls Office. 

It was during this session that " An Act for 
erecting a new Gaol, Workhouse and House of 
Correction in the City of Philadelphia," was 
passed. 
1773, Sept. 21. Peyton Randolph transmitted a Copy 
of the Resolves entered into by the Virginia 
House of Burgesses to the House of Represen- 
tatives of this Province, appointing a Com- 
mittee of correspondence. Peyton Randolph, 
Robt. Carter Nicholas, Richard Bland, Richard 
Henry Lee, Benj. Harrison, Edmund Pendle- 
ton, Patrick Henry, Dudly Digges, Dabney 
Carr, Archibald Cary and Thomas Jefferson, 
Esqrs. ; and which had been passed " Nemine 
Contra-Dicente." Like communications were 
received from the Province of Massachusetts 
Bay, Connecticut and Rhode Island. 
"The Committee appointed by law to super- 
intend the printing the several sums of twenty- 
five thousand poimds struck in pursuance of the 

55 



r-- 



Act of Assembly, entitled : 'An Act for the 
support of the government of this Province 
and payment of the public debts' — passed the 
2ist of March, 1772; and the twelve thousand 
pounds struck in pursuance of the Act, entitled: 
^ An Act for appointing Wardens for the Port 
of Philadelphia^ and for other purposes therein 
metttiofted'' — passed the 21st of February, 
1773; this day, by the hands of Mr. Hillegas^ 
produced to the House the receipts of Owen 
fones^ Esq. , Provincial Treasurer, for the above 
sums to him delivered by the said committees, 
together with fifteen unsigned supernumerary 
sheets, and fifty-six bills oi forty shillings each, 
of the twenty five^ and two sheets of the 
twelve thousand pounds^ which were examined 
and counted at the table by the Speaker, and 
then burned by order in the presence of the 
House." Thereupon it was ordered "That 
Messrs. Hillegas, Rhoads, Mifflin, Brown and 
Ross be a Committee to prepare and bring in 
a Bill for the support of the government of this 
Province and payment of the public debts." 
The incidental expenses for the year show the 
special work done by Mr. Hillegas as the 
amounts paid him indicate. 
56 



Twenty- four days' service, Com- 
mittee of public accounts, at lo 
shillings per diem _^i2.o.o 

(With the exception of Mr. Pearson, the other 
members served only twenty-two days.) 

His account of Indian expenses, ;^82.5.8 
For superintending the trans- 
cript of the public accounts, and 
for other extra service to the 
House, ^20.0.0 

(The hand of Mr. Hillegas as a master account- 
ant and financier is seen in the reports of the 
Committee of public accounts from the time 
he became one of its members. The above 
item so clearly demonstrates the fact that com- 
ment is unnecessary.) 

1773, Oct. 14. Marks the beginning ofa new session. 
Mr. Hillegas is continued as a member from 
the county of Philadelphia, and stands second 
on the roll. Thomas Mifilin and Benjamin 
Franklin become representatives from the City 
of Philadelphia. Messrs. Hillegas, Rhoads, 
Miles, Mifiain, Chapman and Pearson consti- 
tute the Committee of public accounts. 

I773> ^^c- 2- ^^r- Hillegas, chairman of Committee 
of thirteen members to report the "Quantity 

57 



of each species of property, as well real as 
personal, returned eacli year from the several 
counties of this Province, and as enjoined by 
law to be rated for sinking the Bills of credit 
granted to the King's use, or at least, such of 
them as have been returned in the two or three 
first and last years since the present mode of 
assessment has taken place, (with the sum 
total in money that has been levied on the same 
each and every year), or in any other inter- 
mediate year, which they may think necessary 
for the better information of the House." 
The following day this committee reported 
that they had made some progress and re- 
quested that other members may be joined with 
them for the purpose of expediting the said 
business. Thereupon, sixteen members were 
added to the committee. The consideration 
of this matter was important and evidently 
warm, occupying considerable time, and twice 
during this "Debate on the subject of taxa- 
tion," the yeas and nays were called. 
1773, Dec. 22. Mr. Hillegas is chairman of the 
Committee " For extending such parts of the 
statutes of bankruptcy passed in England^ as 
are best adapted to the circumstances of this 
Province. ' ' 

58 



1773) ^^c. 23. Chairman of Committee on "An 
Act to prevent frauds in the packing and pre- 
serving of shad and herring for exportation." 

1774, Jan. 6. Chairman of Committee respecting 
the attention of the dams erected in Connes- 
togoe Creek, 

1774, Jan. 10. Chairman of Committee "For recor- 
ding warrants, surveys, deeds and convey- 
ances." 

1774, Jan. II. Again "Appointed and empowered 
to demand and collect fines for breach of the 
rules of the House, for the use of the Penn- 
sylvania Hospital. ' ' 

Chairman of Committee on "An Act for regu- 
lating peddlers and vendues, etc." 

1774, Jan. 13. The Governor having presented a 
message relating to the claim of the Colony of 
Connecticut to lands within this Province, and 
the "Riotous and tumultuous manner" of 
taking possession of same, and holding said 
possession in a hostile manner, to the great 
disturbance of the peace of the Province. 
That the said emigrants, together with a num- 
ber of ill-disposed persons, have in defiance of 
the laws of the country and executive powers 
of this government, afibrded protection to 

59 



oflfenders of the most atrocious kind,* * *, and 
in a hostile manner attempted to dispossess the 
peaceful inhabitants settled within the limits of 
this government. Thereupon, it was ' ' Ordered 
that Messrs. Hillegas, Mifflin, Brown, Rodman, 
Ferree, and Allen be a Committee to prepare 
and bring in a Bill for preventing tumults and 
riotous assemblies, and for the more speedy 
and ejBfectual punishing the rioters. ' ' 

1774, Jan. 18. The necessary Bills having been 
passed, Mr. Hillegas and Mr. Gray were in- 
structed to wait on the Governor for his assent. 
Chairman of the Committee on "Bill to in- 
crease the allowance to members of Assembly 
for their attendance on the public service." 

1774, Jan. 20. The model of a machine for cleaning 
and deepening docks, raising sand and stones 
for building, etc., presented by Arthur Don- 
aldson^ having been viewed and examined by 
the members, it was " Ordered^ that Messrs. 
Hillegas, Rhoads, Miles, Elliott, Rodman, 
Humphreys, Morton and seven others, be a 
"Committee to inspect the said machine, see 
it perform, and report their opinon of its use- 
fulness to the House at their next meeting. ' ' 

1774, Jan, 21. The following "Abstract of an account 

60 



of fifteen thousand pounds granted for the 
defence of Philadelphia and raised by Act of 
Assembly — passed the 9th of March, 1771, as 
the same was laid out by the Governor and 
Commissioners," occurs in the Governor's 
message. Some of the items are interesting. 
Joseph Galloway, Esq., for "Deep Water Is- 
land"; Joseph Fox, Esq., for " Scantling and 
for clearing cannon ' ' ; William Rush, ' ' Smith's 
work"; Samuel Levis, for "Scantling"; John 
Morton, Esq., " Logs for the Fort"; Matthew 
Clarkson, "Clerkship, etc."; Samuel Rhoads, 
"Nails and glass"; Samuel Penrose, "Provi- 
sions" ; Owen Jones, Provincial Treasurer 
"Committee." This account was signed by 
John Penn, Benj. Chew, Joseph Galloway, 
Joseph Fox, Michael Hillegas, John Morton. 
No proper provision having been made for in- 
demnifying the Provincial Treasurer in pay- 
ing the above amount, the Speaker addressed 
a message to the Governor, the time before the 
adjournment being too limited to deliberate 
upon and pass the necessary legislation, trust- 
ing that the temporary provision for the 
matter meet his approval. Mr. Hillegas and 
Mr. Pearson were appointed a Committee to 
61 



present this message to his Honor. These same 
gentlemen were authorized to join with the 
members of Council in comparing the en- 
grossed Bills. 

1774, Jan. 22. At this time the House took into 
consideration "The ruinous condition of the 
State House steeple," and " Ordered^ that the 
Superintendents confer with some skillful arch- 
itect for the purpose of repairing or rebuilding 
the same." 

1774, July 19. Mr. Hillegas, Chairman of Com- 
mittee to continue " An Act to prevent the ex- 
portation of bread and flour not merchantable. ' ' 

1774, July 20. '■'■Resolved^ that Michael Hillegas, 
George Gray, Thomas Mifflin, and Charles 
Humphreys, Esqrs., or any three of them, by 
and with the consent and approbation of the 
Governor of this Province for the time being, 
may draw orders on the Provincial Treasurer 
for any sum not exceeding two thousand pounds^ 
to be disposed of in paying and victualing, 
until the loth day of August next, a number 
of Rangers lately raised by the Magistrates 
of Westmoreland county, for removing the 
panic into which the inhabitants of the said 
county have been thrown by the late Indian 
62 



disturbances, and for other incidental expenses; 
also in maintaining the peace and friendship 
subsisting between this Province and the 
Indians." 

' ' That if, after the said loth day of August it 
shall appear to the Governor and the said 
(aforenamed gentlemen) necessary to employ 
any number of the said Rangers, this House 
will pass a Bill for paying and victualing them, 
until the 20th day of September next, provided 
their number shall not exceed two hundred." 
1774, July 22. The Committee of the whole House 
taking into their most serious consideration 
the unfortunate dilGferences which have long 
subsisted between Great Britain and the Amer- 
ican Colonies, and been greatly increased by 
the operation and eflfects of divers late acts of 
the British Parliament, ^'Resolved, N. C. D., 
that there is an absolute necessity that a 
Congress of Deputies from the several Colonies 
be held as soon as conveniently may be, to 
consult together upon the present unhappy 
state of the Colonies, and to form and adopt a 
plan for the purpose of obtaining redress of 
American grievances, ascertaining American 
rights upon the most solid constitutional 

63 



principles, and for establishing that union and 
harmony between Great Britain and the Col- 
onies, which is indispensibly necessary to the 
welfare and happiness of both." ^^ Resolved^ 
N. C. D., that the Honorable Joseph Gallo- 
way, Speaker, Samuel Rhoads, Thos. Mifflin, 
Charles Humphreys, John Morton, George 
Ross and Edward Biddle, Esqrs., be and they 
hereby are appointed a Committee on the part 
of this Province for the purposes aforesaid, and 
that they, or any four of them, do meet such 
Committees or Delegates from the other Colo- 
nies as have been, or may be, appointed, either 
by their respective Houses of Representatives, 
or by Convention, or by the Provincial or Col- 
onial Committees, at such time and place as 
shall be generally agreed on by such Com- 
mittees, and that the Speaker of this House be 
directed in a letter to the Speakers of the 
Houses of Representatives of the other Col- 
onies to inform them of these resolves." 
Upon motion, " Ordered^ that Messrs. Hille- 
gas. Brown, John Jacobs, Webb, Ross, Pope 
and Allen be a Committee to prepare and 
bring in draughts of instructions for the Dep- 
uties to the ensuing Congress ; a circular letter 
64 



to tlie Speakers of the several Colonial Assem- 
blies, and an answer to the Governor's mes- 
sage on Indian affairs." This like everything 
of which Mr. Hillegas was head, was promptly 
done at the very next meeting, July 23d. 

1774, July 23. Major Isaac Hamilton, of the Royal 
Irish Regulars of Foot, addressed a communi- 
cation to the Assembly, stating that the bed- 
ding, utensils and apartments of his Majesty's 
troops under his command required inspection 
and wanted repairs, and praying for the in- 
spection and relief their generosity and judg- 
ment shall dictate. Upon consideration of 
which, Mr. Hillegas and Mr. Miles were ap- 
pointed a Committee to examine into the 
present condition of the said barracks, and 
report thereon to the House at their next 
meeting. This does not appear to have been 
done. The reason is obvious. 

1774, Oct. 14. This marks the beginning of another 
session. Mr. Hillegas continued as a member. 
A new Speaker was unanimously chosen in 
the person of Edward Biddle, of Berks county. 
Mr. Hillegas continued on Committee of 
accounts. 
At this time the "General Congress," composed 

65 



of the Deputies from the several Colonies, 
was sitting in this city. John Dickenson was 
added to the Committee of Deputies from this 
Province. It was also ' ' Resolved^ that this 
House will provide an entertainment, to be 
given on Thursday next, to the Deputies from 
the several Colonies attending public business 
in this city." Messrs. Gray, Hillegas, Mifflin, 
Rodman, Pearson, Wayne and Ross, with the 
Speaker, were constituted "A Committee to 
provide and superintend said entertainment." 
"It being represented by Mr. Hillegas that 
'Cayasbuta,' an Indian Chief of note, and a 
friend to this Province, is now in town, and in 
want of some necessaries," Mr. Hillegas was 
authorized to procure the necessaries, defray 
his expenses, and present him with ten pounds. 
Of the especial appropriation of twenty-five 
thousand pounds, passed March 21, 1772, Mr. 
Hillegas was paid 

For Indian expenses, ;^82.5.8 

For extra services, 20.0.0 

For service on public accounts, 12.0.0 

For service as Provincial com., 15.0.0 

Mr. Hillegas was frequently appointed with 
other prominent members to see the great seal 
66 



affixed and deposit the new law in the Rolls 
Office. 

Examining the incidental expenses of the As- 
sembly of each year, it will be observed that 
Mr. Hillegas invariably served the full time on 
the Committee of accounts. We note other 
instances of his having been paid "for Indian 
expenses," and for services as one of the " Pro- 
vincial Commissioners." The other Com- 
missioners for this year were Joseph Galloway, 
Benj. Chew, Joseph Fox, Thos. Cadwalader. 

1774, Oct. 19. The Rangers having been continued 
in service on account of the unsettled condi- 
tion of the Indians, Messrs. George Gray, 
Michael Hillegas, Thos. Mifflin and Charles 
Humphreys, or any three of them, were author- 
ized with the consent and approbation of the 
Governor, to draw on the Provincial Treasurer, 
for any sum not exceeding fourteen hundred 
and fifty pounds, for paying them and their 
expenses. 

1774, Oct. 21. The "General Congress" was enter- 
tained on the 20th inst., and Messrs. Gray, 
Hillegas, Mifflin, Rodman, Pearson, Wayne 
and Ross, or any four of them with the 
Speaker, were authorized to settle the account 
67 



and the expenses attending the sitting of tlie 

Congress. 

Mr. Hillegas added to the Committee to 

inspect the printing of the laws of this 

Province. 

1774, Dec. 9. Mr. Hillegas continued in his estab- 
lished relation to collect fines for breach of 
rules of the House for the use of the Pennsyl- 
vania Hospital. 

1774, Dec. 10. The delay in paying borrowers occa- 
sioned by the slow process in vogue of signing 
the bills of credit, called forth the appoint- 
ment of Messrs. Dickenson, Hillegas and 
Brown as a Committee on " A supplementary 
Act for appointing a further number of signers 
of the paper money, in addition to those named 
in the said Act." 

1774, Dec. 23. Messrs. Gray, Hillegas, Rhoads, 
Mifflin and Pearson, constituted a Committee 
to secure an Act to issue bills of credit of this 
Province ; for redeeming certificates issued by 
the Commissioners ; and for carrying on and 
completing the "Gaol, Workhouse and House 
of Correction." 

1774, Dec. 24. Mr. Hillegas a member of the Com- 
mittee to view the Schuylkill and report the 
68 



most suitable place to build a bridge to accom- 
modate the public. 

He was requested to procure necessary winter 
clothing for Negro Dublin, defray expense of 
his board, and draw on the Provincial Treas- 
urer for payment. 

1775, Mr. Hillegas presented at the table, and had 
allowed the account of Luke Morris for a boat 
and ropes at Province Island Ferry; and of 
lyuke Morris, Thos. Wharton and Samuel 
Morris for monies expended by them on said 
island. 

1775, Mar. 3. Messrs. Hillegas, Mifflin and Morton 
a Committee on "Bill for striking szx thousand 
pounds, for the purpose of rendering the navi- 
gation of the River Delaware secure in the 
winter season." The same was presented on 
the 4th inst. 

1775, Mar. 7. The Governor, John Penn, by mes- 
sage, called the attention of the House to the 
presence in the city of a number of Indians of 
the Tuscarora^ Nanticoke and Coftoy tribes, 
who reside on the heads of the Susquehanna, 
who represent themselves as very poor and 
in want of clothing and other necessaries. 
Whereupon, on the 8th, the House ^^ Directed, 
69 



that Messrs. Hillegas and Mifflin be author- 
ized to draw a sum not exceeding one hundred 
pounds on Dr. Samuel Preston Moore, for the 
purpose indicated." 
1775, Mar. 9. In view of the alarming crisis which 
Great Britain and her Colonies were approach- 
ing, Governor John Penn felt it his duty to 
suggest proper measures for the Representa- 
tives of the Province to pursue, and on the 
2ist of February, 1775, presented a written 
message to the House. To this they responded, 
after spirited debate, first in vein of sarcasm, 
"we agree with you that in all cases wisdom 
dictates the use of such means as are most 
likely to attain the end proposed. ' ' And then 
with more vigor, "we have, with deep con- 
cern, beheld a system of Colony administra- 
tion pursued since the year 1763, destructive 
to the rights and liberties of his Majesty's most 
faithful subjects in America^ and have hereto- 
fore adopted such measures as we thought 
were most likely to restore that affection and 
harmony between the Parent State and the 
Colonies. * * * We must inform your Honor 
that a most humble, dutiful and affectionate 
petition from the delegates of all the Colonies 
70 



from Nova Scotia to Georgia is now at the 
foot of the throne. * * * " This answer was 
supported by Messrs. Gray, Parker, Hillegas, 
Mifflin, Chas. Thompson, Bartholomew, John 
Jacobs, Gibbons, Pearson, Humphreys, Morton, 
Wayne, Ross, Ewing, Swoope, Allen, Mont- 
gomery, Chreist, Edmunds, Daugherty, Hunter 
and William Thompson. 

(It is quite evident at this time that Mr. 
Hillegas is a leader on the floor of the House.) 
Speaker Biddle being ill, at his own request a 
new Speaker is elected in the person of John 
Morton, Esq. 

1775, May I. A letter from William BoUan, Beuj. 
Franklin and Arthur Lee, dated London, Feb- 
ruary 5th, 1775, laid before the House, reveals 
that Lord Chatham's proposition to withdraw 
the troops from Boston, had been rejected, and 
that it was "The determination to inforce 
obedience to all the laws." 

1775, May II. '"'' Resolved^ that George Gray, 
Michael Hillegas and Chas. Humphreys, 
Esqrs., or any two of them, are hereby author- 
ized and empowered to draw orders on Samuel 
Preston Moore, Esq. , to the amount of eighteen 
hundred pounds, * * * and on the Provincial 

71 



Treasurer for the sum of two hundred pounds, 
* * * to be disposed of and applied towards dis- 
charging certain engagements lately entered 
into for the public security." 

1775, June 20. An error having been discovered in 
the form of the bills of credit directed to be 
struck, Messrs. Hillegas, Pearson and Hum- 
phreys were constituted a Committee to bring 
in a Bill to correct. 

1775, June 21. Mr. Hillegas of the Committee on 
" Bill for striking the sum of twenty-two 
thousand pounds in bills of credit." This 
Bill was promptly presented the very next day. 

1775, June 24. The account of John Palmer, inn- 
keeper at the Falls of Schuylkill, for expenses 
of the Committee of Assembly appointed to 
view the River Schuylkill last spring, was 
presented to the House; a certificate of pay- 
ment was drawn by order, signed by the 
Speaker and delivered to Mr. Hillegas. 

1775, June 27. Messrs. Gray, Dickenson, Hillegas, 
Chas. Thompson, Rodman, Pearson, Wayne, 
Ross, Montgomery and Edwards were ap- 
pointed a Committee to present such measures 
as may be expedient for putting this city and 
Province into a state of defense. 
72 



i775> J^^^ 28. The Governor having declined to 
give his consent to the Bill entitled "An Act 
for the support of this Province and payment 
of the public debt," it was " Ordered^ that 
Messrs. Dickenson, Hillegas, Pearson and Fox 
be a Committee to bring in an answer to his 
message announcing the foregoing fact." 

1775, June 29. Mr. Hillegas joins with members of 
the Council, appointed by the Governor, to 
compare the engrossed Bills with the originals, 
and with Mr. Parker to see the great seal 
affixed. 

The Committee appointed to strike the sum of 
twenty thousand pounds in bills of credit, 
produced the receipt of Joseph Fox, Esq. , one 
of the Commissioners of the county of Phila- 
delphia, for the said sum, according to direc- 
tions.' 

1775, June 30. By a series of resolutions presented 
by the Committee to consider such measures, 
etc., the House approved the "Association en- 
tered into by the good people of this Province 
for the defense of their lives, liberty and 
property;" made provision for placing the city 
and Province on a war footing; named a Com- 
mittee of safety; that bills of credit to the 

73 



value of thirty-five thousand pounds be issued; 
named the parties to sign the said bills; and 
when signed to be delivered to Michael Hill- 
egas, Esq., hereby appointed Treasurer. 

1775, Sept. 20. Messrs. Hillegas, Pearson and Ross, 
a Committee on " Bill for striking twenty-two 
thousand pounds in bills of credit for the sup- 
port of this government." 

1775, Sept. 22. The bond of Mr. Hillegas as Treas- 
urer of the Committee of safety approved and 
entered of record. 

1775, Sept. 30. The close of this session. Mr. 
Hillegas was paid seventy-Jive pounds for 
* ' extra services. ' ' 

1775, Oct. 14. Mr. Hillegas continued as a member 
of the Assembly. John Dickenson, Michael 
Hillegas and George Gray head the list. Mr. 
Hillegas continued Chairman of Committee on 
accounts. Robert Morris, having been elected 
a member of the Assembly from Philadelphia 
county, is included on this committee. 

1775, Oct. 18. Messrs. Hillegas, Gray, Morris, Pear- 
son and others "A Committee to state an ac- 
count of the several grants made by this Prov- 
ince to the Crown from the year 1755 to 1764, 
inclusive, which were to be sunk by taxes, 
etc., and report the balances outstanding." 

74 



1775) Oct. 19. Mr. Hillegas, Chairman, with Messrs. 
Gray, Morris, Brown, Pearson and others, 
Committee to inquire and report what progress 
had been made in the manufacture of saltpetre 
in Philadelphia. Reported November loth. 

1775, Nov. 3. Mr. Hillegas, Chairman of Committee 
to inquire into progress made in procuring 
arms for public use. 

1775, Nov. 15. Messrs. Dickenson, Hillegas, Miles, 
Pearson, with the Speaker, a Committee for 
*' Striking the sum of eighty thousand pounds 
in bills of credit. " Reported November 17 th. 
Mr. Hillegas' s vote, with that of Dickenson, 
Gray, Potts, Miles, Parker, Morris and others, 
during these trying days, indicates the patriot. 
The members being equally divided, it required 
the casting vote of the Speaker to determine 
the question relative to the "Improvement in 
military dicipline ' ' of the Associators. 

1775, Nov. 18. Resolutions authorizing the prepa- 
ration and printing of the above bills of credit 
for eighty thousand pounds, directs how and 
when it shall be done and by whom signed; 
and after being signed, numbered and per- 
fected, the committee ' ' Shall deliver them 
to Michael Hillegas, Esq., who is hereby 

75 



appointed Treasurer for this purpose," and 
take his receipt for same. 

That the sum of five shillings for every hun- 
dred pounds, be allowed to the said Mr. 
Hillegas, for his commission as Treasurer of 
the thirty-five thousand pounds. 
1775, Nov. 24. The Committee to examine and ad- 
just the accounts of the several Battalions of 
Associators, was empowered to draw orders for 
payment of same upon Michael Hillegas, Esq. , 
which he is required to pay out of the eighty 
thousand pounds emitted by resolution of the 
House. Messrs. Dickenson, Hillegas and 
Morris, with the Speaker, a Committee to 
" Revise and correct the minutes of this House 
before they are printed." 

1775, Nov. 25. Petapanibila (alias George Allen), 
an Indian distinguished for his fidelity to this 
Province, was voted the sum of one hundred 
pounds, and Mr. Hillegas and Mr. Miles were 
requested to lay out the same for him in such 
goods and other necessarie , as may be most 
useful to him. 

1776, Feb. 15. Mr. Hillegas, produces a bill for 
Mr. Fox for ;^2ii.i7.6 for repairs to Barracks. 

1776, Feb. 16. Messrs. Hillegas, Joseph Reed, 

76 



Gibbons, a Committee "To enable Keepers of 
Records in the counties of Philadelphia and 
Chester, to remove them to more safe and 
convenient places, if the state of public aflfairs 
shall reqiiire it." 

1776, Feb. 22. Mr. Hillegas, Chairman of Com- 
mittee, to visit the House of Employment, 
inspect the accounts and ' oeconomy ' thereof, 
and report. ' ' 

1776, Mar. I. Some Indians in town wanted to be 
supplied with a horse, a beaver trap, etc. 
Messrs. Hillegas and Parker were *'*' Ordered^ to 
provide them and such little matters as they 
thought expedient. 

1776, Mar. 5. Chairman of Committee to prepare 
and bring in an estimate of the expense of 
levying a body of fifteen hundred men; and 
victualing and paying them for one year. The 
same day their full estimate is spread upon the 
minutes. And upon consideration of this 
estimate, the House determined to "Levy and 
take into pay fifteen hundred men (ofiicers 
included) for the immediate defense of the 
Province." 

1776, Mar. 14. An order for three thousand pounds 
drawn on Michael Hillegas, Esq., payable to 

t.OFC. ^^ 



Col. Samuel Miles, to be immediately applied 
to the recruiting service, 

1776, Mar. 21. '■^ Resolved^ that Michael Hillegas, 
Esq., Treasurer, pay such orders as shall be 
drawn by the Committee of safety in favor of 
the said Paymaster (John Maxwell Nesbit), for 
the purpose of paying the Pennsylvania forces. 
Messrs. Hillegas, Gray and Rittenhouse, a 
Committee to contract with persons willing to 
undertake supplying the troops to be raised 
with provisions. 

1776, Apr. 6. Messrs. Hillegas, Parker and Ritten- 
house added to the Committee of safety. 
Mr. Hillegas produced at the table an account 
from the Managers of the House of Employ- 
ment, of twenty-seven pounds, ten shillings, 
for the *' Cloathing, board and burial of Cath- 
erine Smithy a blind pauper." A certificate 
for the sum was drawn by order, signed by the 
Speaker and delivered to Mr. Hillegas. 
Messrs. Dickinson, Hillegas, Reed and Ritten- 
house constituted a Committee to ' ' Draught 
resolves for striking eighty-Jive thousand 
pounds in bills of credit for answering the 
present exigencies of this Province." This 
committee reported at once. That after the 

78 



said Bills had been promptly signed, numbered 
and perfected, they were to be delivered to 
Michael Hillegas, Esq., who is hereby ap- 
pointed Treasurer for that purpose. The 
Treasurer to give bond in the sum of ten 
thousand pounds, for the faithful discharge of 
the trust reposed in him. 

1776, May 30. He was '' Appointed Provincial 
Treasurer, in the room of Owen Jones, Esq." 

1776, June 14. From this date the House stood 
adjourned to Monday the 26th day of August. 
At that date a quorum not appearing and fail- 
ing to appear after several daily attempts, 
adjourned to Monday, 23d day of September. 

1776, Sept. 24. The Speaker with twenty-eight 
members met pursuant to adjournment of the 
preceding day, when, after consideration, the 
Speaker put the question "Whether the sum 
of one thousand pounds shall be allowed to the 
Governor, for his support during the present 
year?" Carried in the aiS&rmative with the 
following voting "Nay": Hillegas, Parker, 
Bartholomew, Gibbons, Pearson, Jacobs, Por- 
ter, Galbreath, Hoge, Whitehill, Arndt, Smith. 

1776, Sept. 26. In the final account rendered by 
Owen Jones, Esq., late Provincial Treasurer, 

79 



we find Mr. Hillegas was paid for extra ser- 
vices seventy-five pounds ; expense for repair- 
ing Deep water Island forty- five pounds, four 
shillings, one penny; service on accounts, ten 
pounds. 

The statement of the account of Michael 
Hillegas as Provincial Treasurer is found at 
the close of Vol. VI, Votes of the Assembly. 



80 



CHAPTER VI. 

JOURNALS OF CONGRESS. 

1775, July 29. ^'' Resolved^ that Michael Hilleg as and 
George Clynier^ Hsqrs., be joint Treasurers of 
the United Colonies ; that the Treasurers shall 
reside in Philadelphia, and that they shall give 
bond with surety for the faithful performance 
of their ofEce, in the sum of one hundred 
thousand dollars. ' ' 

1775, Aug. I. Payments of large sums of money to 
be applied to the use of the army in Mass- 
achusetts-Bay, authorized ; (and if insufficient, 
Washington empowered to draw on Conti- 
nental Treasury for |20o,ooo.oo); to the Pro- 
vincial Convention of New York for monies 
advanced; to the Delegates of the Colony of 
Connecticut, in part of the sums disbursed in 
. the Continental service; to the use of the army 
in the New York department; to the Colony of 
Pennsylvania for sums borrowed and for con- 
tingent services. 

1775, Dec. 26. The state of the Treasury was 
considered and brought forth a series of 
81 



resolutions which might properly be called the 
beginning of the financial system of the United 
Colonies. 
1776, Mar. 9. Samuel Hillegas, son of Michael, 
appointed (inter alia) to sign bills of credit. 

1776, June 26. ''''Resolved^ that Michael Hillegas, 
Esq. , be empowered and directed to pay such 
sums of money as are or may be due to the 
several signers of Continental bills of credit 
for their services. ' ' 

1777, Apr. 21. ''''Resolved^ that Michael Hillegas, 

Esq., Treasurer, be authorized and directed to 
appoint and qualify such a number of addi- 
tional signers of money as he shall judge 
necessary, and send to Congress a certificate of 
said appointment and qualification." 

1777, Aug. 9. "^^^6'/z/^(^, that the Board of Treasury 
be directed to order Mr. Hillegas, the Treas- 
urer, together with the Treasury and printing 
press under his care to remove to Philadelphia 
as soon as they judge the state and situation of 
public affairs will admit." " That the Board 
of Treasury be directed to take into considera- 
tion and report a proper compensation to Mr. 
Hillegas for his past and future services." 

1777, Sept. 6. ''''Resolved^ that there be allowed to 

82 



Michael Hillegas, Esq., Treasurer of the 
United States, from the 6th day of August, 
1776, when Mr. Clymer resigned the office of 
joint Treasurer, a salary after the rate, 3,200 
dollars per annum for discharging the duties of 
that office." 
1778, Apr. 17. ^^ Resolved^ that all the Loan Office 
certificates struck by resolutions of Congress 
of the 3d day of October, 1776, the 14th of 
January and 22d of February, 1777, and eight 
hundred and sixty certificates of one thousand 
dollars each, numbered from number i to 860, 
of the emission ordered by Congress the 17th 
day of January, 1778, which have been signed 
by Michael Hillegas, Esq., Treasurer, or 
Samuel Hillegas, be good and valid, notwith- 
standing some of the said certificates may be 
issued by the several Commissioners of the 
Continental Loan Offices, after the date of the 
resolutions of Congress appointing Francis 
Hopkinson, Esq., Treasurer of Loans." 

1778, Aug. 3. Michael Hillegas was elected Treas- 
urer, having been previously nominated by 
Mr. S. Adams. 

1779, Feb. II. On recommendation of the "Com- 
mittee on the Treasury," it was ^^ Resolved^ 

83 



that a Secretary of the Treasury be appointed, 
with the salary of two thousand dollars per 
annum." 
1779, Oct. 23. Congress took into consideration so 
much of the report of the Committee respecting 
the establishment of a Board of the Treasury, 
as relates to the annual election of the officers, 
and proper salaries for the said officers; and 
''''Resolved^ that the Commissioners, Secretary 
and Clerks of the Board of Treasury, and all 
other departments of the Auditor General, 
Treasurer and Chambers of Accounts, who 
may be appointed before the conclusion of the 
present war, shall hold their respective offices 
during the pleasure of Congress ; anything 
contained in an ordinance for establishing a 
Board of Treasury, and the proper offices for 
managing the finances of these United States, 
to the contrary notwithstanding." Until fur- 
ther ordered the following salaries, per annum, 
were allowed : Commissioners of the Board of 
Treasury, not members of Congress, respec- 
tively $14,000.00; Auditor General, $12,000.00; 
Commissioners of the Chambers Accounts, 
$12,000.00; Secretary of the Board of Treasury, 
$10,000.00; Treasurer, $15,000.00; " That the 
84 



salaries aforesaid shall be annually or oftener, 
if Congress shall judge it expedient, revised 
and altered agreeable to the appreciation of 
the continental currency." 

1779, Nov. 9. Agreeable to the ordinance for estab- 
lishing the Board of Treasury, Congress pro- 
ceeded to an election by ballot, when the fol- 
lowing gentlemen were chosen : Ezekiel Fore- 
man, Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., Commissioners 
of the Board of Treasury; Michael Hillegas, 
Treasurer; Jas. Mulligan, Auditor General ; 
Jos. Nourse, Assistant Auditor General; Robt. 
Troup, Secretary of the Board of Treasury; 
Wm. Govett, Resolve Smith, Wm. Geddess, 
John D. Mercier, Eleazer M'Comb, Nathaniel 
Mumford, Commissioners of the Chambers of 
Accounts. Mr. Houston and Mr. Sharpe were 
then chosen members of the Board of Treasury. 

1780, Apr. 27. Report from Board of Treasury was 
read, whereupon '•''Ordered^ that five warrants 
for fifty thousand dollars each, issue on Natha- 
niel Appleton, Commissioner of the Conti- 
nental lyoan Ofiice for the State of Massachu- 
setts-Bay, in favor of Michael Hillegas, Treas- 
urer of the United States, for which the said 
Treasurer is to be accountable. ' ' 

85 



1780, May 18. ''^ Ordered^ that a warrant issue on 
Nathaniel Appleton, Commissioner of Conti- 
nental Loan Ofifice, for the State of Massachu- 
setts-Bay, in favor of Michael Hillegas, Treas- 
urer of the United States for $590,000.00, for 
which he is accountable." 

1780, June 19. '"'' Ordered^ by Board of Treasury 
that a warrant issue on same to same for 
$800,000.00." 

1781, Feb. 7. ''''Resolved^ that there be a Superin- 
tendent of Finance, a Secretary of War and a 
Secretary of Marine." Their powers and 
duties determined. 

1781, Feb. 20. Robert Morris, Esq., was unani- 
mously elected (Superintendent of Finance), 
having been previously nominated by Mr. 
Floyd. On the 14th of May he accepted. 

1781, July 23. F. Hopkinson, Treasurer of Loans, 
resigned, and that office abolished and the 
business thereof annexed to the office of Treas- 
urer of the United States. 

1781, Sept. II. An ordinance for regulating the 
Treasury, and adjusting public accounts was 
passed, authorizing the appointment by Con- 
gress in aid of the Superintendent of Finance 
"A Controller, a Treasurer, a Register, Audi- 
tors and Clerks. 

86 



1781, Sept. 19. Michael Hillegas was elected Treas- 
urer, having been previously nominated by 
Mr. Sherman. 

1786, Oct. 16. In the ordinance for the establish- 
ment of the Mint of the United States, it is 
directed that there shall be among its officers 
"A Paymaster, who shall be the Treasurer of 
the United States for the time being, whose 
duty it shall be to receive and take charge of 
the coin made under the direction of the 
Master Coiner." " To receive and duly enter 
the certificates for uncoined gold or silver 
issued by the Assay-master, etc." 



Note. — The resignation and conclusion of Morris's official 
career as Superintendent, made necessary a new organization of 
the Treasury Department. This occurred late in May, 1784. At 
this time provision was made for a Board of Commissioners, 
whose salaries were fixed at (^2,500 each. They were to serve 
for three years. Samuel Osgood and Walter Livingston were 
elected on the 25th of January, 1785. Thus there was no Board of 
Treasury or other head of that department at all (except Mr. 
Hillegas — Compiler), from November i, 1784, to January 25, 1785; 
and it does not appear that Osgood and Livingston proceeded to 
act as a Board, for Jay wrote to the President of Congress, April i, 
1785, urging that the Commissioners of the Treasury ought to 
convene and proceed to business. In 1788 the Committee on the 
Finances fixed the date upon which the new Board of Treasury 
took office, after Morris's resignation, as the 21st of April, 1785.1 
(Mr. Hillegas was in the full performance of his duties during this 
period.) 



1 The Financier and the Finances of the American Revolution. W. C. Sumner, 
Vol. II, p. 124. 



87 






4 P>. 



. \ 









•n.'o^ 



^'^ ^^ A^ **f^fefe''. *^^. C^*^ »'-'^" 




^0^ 










• V ..^"^ .4% 




^ (V 











v^ ,.. V ''"° .^° 







°o 






o V 



